Healing and Dealing with Dental Phobias

Some people may think that there is nothing that can be done to help them in case they suffer from bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding). However, different remedies exist to help sufferers of nighttime teeth grinding. This article discusses some of the measures that may be taken by a dentist to help you if you suffer from bruxism.

The Diagnosis Process

Dentists usually try to find out what exactly may be causing you to grind your teeth at night. To achieve this, your dentist may start by taking your history (dental and medical history). The information that you provide should include any trauma that you may have suffered regardless of whether you think such trauma may or may not be connected to your dental health.

The dentist may also X-ray your temporomandibular joint and your teeth. The X-rays provide an insight into the alignment of the different bones related to your teeth.

Once the dentist has all the data above, he or she will attempt to pinpoint what exactly could be the cause of your bruxism.

Treatment Options

Several treatment options can be pursued in order to alleviate the symptoms of the condition. For instance, your dentist may recommend that you start wearing a mouth guard when you go to sleep. The mouth guard prevents you from grinding your teeth while you sleep.

The dentist may also offer you some prescription drugs, such as anticonvulsants, so that you can have some temporary reprieve from the pain that you feel due to bruxism. However, the dentist may not allow you to use the prescription drugs for an extended duration because you may become dependent on those drugs. Some dentists may also recommend that you receive a Botox injection in your jaw area so that you can get some relief from the acute pain that you may be experiencing because of bruxism.

The diagnostic data collected by the dentist may also lead him or her to recommend that you undergo some alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, stress management therapy, physical therapy and yoga. Such therapies may be able to address the psychological, physiological or behavioural factors that could have caused your condition.

As you can see, many options are available to help you to get some relief from the symptoms of nighttime teeth grinding. The condition can even disappear completely if the root cause is identified and addressed. It is therefore important for you to have a detailed discussion with your dentist so that the right intervention can be prescribed.

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About Me

Hi, my name is Casey, and I used to be afraid of going to the dentist. I always thought that I was the only one with those fears, and I felt so alone. However, I have learned through the years that many people suffer from dental phobias. If you feel alone, you have come to the right place. I have made this blog to help you learn how to heal from and deal with dental phobias and to help you feel less alone. I plan to present the strategies that worked for me as well as some new ones that I hope will work for you. Hopefully, this blog helps you get past your dental phobias and helps mitigate fear or anxiety in other parts of your life. Just remember that you are not alone. Cheers, Casey.